Image Credit: Jordin Althaus/NBCNBC has brought production to a halt on Outlaw, the network’s new legal drama starring Jimmy Smits. Three episodes have already aired at 10 p.m. Fridays but the series hasn’t exactly burned down the house of Nielsen: Outlaw only averaged 4.7 million viewers on Oct. 1, down from its premiere week average of 4.98 million. The network still has five original episodes in the can that are scheduled to air so its plan is to monitor the show’s performance in the coming weeks before deciding whether to resume production.
Other than featuring the popular Smits, the other fascinating aspect about Outlaw is that it comes from Conan O’Brien, who developed the series for NBC under his Conaco production banner. O’Brien is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the show, though. That responsibility falls on Conaco head David Kissinger and Russell Schwartz.
Outlaw is the first show of the 2010-11 season to go on production hiatus. Two other dramas have already been canceled, which are Fox’s Lone Star and ABC’s My Generation.
Outlaw premiere review: Jimmy Smits, stuck in one of the fall season’s worst?
Aww love this show! Does that mean its done
All I can say is THANK GOD!! This show was horrible and Jimmy Smits is too good to be in it. About time they cancelled it.
I’m with Coco!
Yes, more than likely it’s done. It was dead at Fridays at 10pm when it was placed on the schedule. Many said it would be gone in 4 weeks, unfortunately Blue Bloods, at CBS proved more formidable and is beating Outlaw in the Nielsens.
Smits really cannot carry on show on his own. Cane failed miserably a few seasons back. If we all remember, he always came on shows that were already established and bona-fide hits: LA Law, NYPD Blue & West Wing.
I totally agree that he cannot carry a show by himself. Cane was an awesome show, and had a great cast…that the writers didn’t use properly. There should have been more father/’son’ headbutting between Hector Elizondo and Jimmy Smits. That show should have been so much better. Outlaw has nothing. Bad writing, bad premise, so-so supporting cast.
Jimmy Smits’ best recent work was on Dexter. Play a bad guy again, Jimmy!
I love love love Jimmy Smits – but this is not a good show for him. He was absolutely fabulous in LA Law, NYPD and West Wing. Give him a better show – I will watch any show he is in.
NBC needs to move it and give it a chance. No new show can survive on Friday nights. It’s an awful night.
I’m pretty sure they’d put on at a different night if they believed in its quality. It’s not very good, and the premise that a Supreme Court judge would chuck his powerful, influential position that guarantees him a voice in public policy and a place in the history books to become a dime-a-dozen trial lawyer is ridiculous at best. Of course, that’s just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions.
I agree with you. Nobody is going to quit the Supreme Court, especially not a minority. I feel like this is some writer’s unconscious wish that Sotomayor would quit.
Shannon, I think the success of “Blue Bloods” on CBS shows than a new show can actually thrive on a Friday night. I do not mean this as a shot at “Outlaw” since I have never seen it or “Blue Bloods”, I’m just saying your statement is flawed.
Love the show, however, I agree w/Shannon. Friday nights @ 9PM is a tough slot. Give it a chance…
Give it a chance where!.
Do you think viewers on another night will fail to notice that the show has the most idiotic premise seen on TV in 40 years.
Haven’t you ever heard of ‘My Mother the Car’?
Called it. I love Jimmy Smits but this show is awful.
Bring back LIFE, we still have unanswered questions. OUTLAW sucks by the way.
They’re never going to bring back Life, Veronica Mars, Pushing Daisies, Arrested Development, or any of the 50000 shows people whine about being canceled too soon. TIME TO MOVE ON.
Except whining works at times…. Arrested Development has a movie on the way. Firefly got its own movie. Family Guy was brought back. So on and so forth…
Outlaw’s premise was absolutely idiotic.
It’s all Jay Leno’s fault!
This has nothing to do with Jay Leno. Conan O’brian’s Production company actually produces this show!!
Why did you have to mention LIFE, it makes me so sad!
the premise that a Supreme Court judge would chuck his powerful, influential position that guarantees him a voice in public policy and a place in the history books to become a dime-a-dozen trial lawyer. wow how a show like this even get greenlighted?
Yes, pls bring back LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, maybe I’m crazy but I think Outlaw is perfect for todays political climate. It really makes me feel good to watch this guy using his prestige/loss thereof to his advantage. He knows the law and isnt scared to fight for the unpopular guy as long as its the right thing to do. I like it, I hope it gains momentum.
I love Jimmy Smits and I think the premise of Outlaw, though different, is a good one. I’d like to see the show thrive, and wish more people would watch it. The networks don’t give the shows a chance. Look what they did with Shark (Stark) with James Woods. That was another great lawyer show with a great cast, and it only ran one episode. I still miss that show.
I think youre confusing Shark, a blah show with a similiar premise, to a GREAT show a few years back called SMITH, with Ray Liotta and an all-star cast. Shark ran for almost 2 seasons(!) but Smith was only on for 3 eps. I do believe they ended up making 8 total, but only 3 saw airtime. Outlaw is just a LOUSY PREMISE, CASE CLOSED- no pun intended!
Smith was AWESOME! It’s cancellation was ridiculous.
Awww, I miss Life. Now I’m sad. :’(
The timeslot is not helping this show at all. Fridays at 10pm is the weakest timeslot for a drama like Outlaw. This series should be sometime earlier in the week. One of the few things helping Blue Bloods are all the New Kids On The Block fangirls.
Really? So what would you put it up against? Hawaii 5-0? Castle? The Good Wife? Face it, Friday is the only shot this show had at gaining an audience (and the people are there as Blue Bloods has proven) and they didn’t do it. Stop blaming days of the week.
Being that Outlaw is shown on NBC, i’d put it on Sundays on the same timeslot where The West Wing used to be. I’m still upset that they didn’t make an offshoot of West Wing with Jimmy Smits “President Santos” character in the lead.
@Jane…one of the things helping Blue Bloods is that it’s a quality show. Smits is a good actor in a poorly written show with a horribly bad premise.
I have to confess that Donnie Wahlberg was intially one of the reasons I tuned in. But I continued to watch the show because it is actually good.
was a total misfire anyways..good riddance
I’m sorry for fans of Outlaw but I really didn’t think it had a chance. The premise was just to rediculous. Now maybe NBC can shuffle their schedule around a bit and move CHASE away from Hawaii 5-0.
Yeah, I know. The show isn’t that great but I kind of like it. I’m hoping they will move it to Wed at 10 where there is less competition and it can grab the SVU lead in.
Life was much better than Castle, I watch it but not that impressed, inferior copy of Mentalist & White Collar(outsider helping police solve crimes).